Daily news

Kleos Data to Target Environmental Challenges in
Brazil

6 March 2020 -

Kleos Space S.A. announces that the
Brazilian Government agency Agência Nacional do
Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis – ANP is to
evaluate Kleos data at no cost for three months
commencing at the time the relevant data set is made
available, after which the cost for continuation is
subject to final licence negotiation (Pre-Order).

Speaking about the Pre-Order by a
Brazilian Government agency, Kleos CEO, Andy Bowyer
said, “This is Kleos first entrance into a South
American Government agency. Kleos data will be
instrumental in the fight against environmental crimes,
explicitly demonstrating the case for Kleos data.Our satellites are now on site in India ready for
the final stages of launcher integration, we look
forward to working with our global customers very soon
on their very real on-going challenges”.

Mr. Enrico Pedroso of the ANP who
has 25 years of industry experience & Professor of
Applied Remote Sensing at the Geology Faculty of Rio
State University UERJ, speaking on the need for ANP to
access Geolocated RF Data from Kleos Space:

“What is needed is a variety of
earth observation datasets such as optical & SAR
imagery, AIS data, meteorological and oceanographic
data, etc. operating in an integrated manner which is
where the kind of data Kleos will soon be delivering
will be very useful to identify potentially illegal
shipping activities and pin-point locations which should
be investigated with the other earth observation data
sets available.The fact that Brazil
does not have an active high-performance earth
observation system to monitor the ocean has played a
major factor in preventing the government from finding
the culprit(s) who cause pollution.”

Mr Pedroso continued, "The ANPs'
Superintendence for Operational Security & Environment
(SSM), is responsible for the monitoring of the
environment in Brazil, especially as far as accidents
and pollution are concerned. Recently there was a very
serious incident off the North Atlantic coast of Brazil
when major quantities of oil where found in the ocean
and along the beautiful beaches of North Eastern Brazil
most likely spilled by a single polluting ship. During
recent weeks and as part of the Brazilian Contingency
Planning activities, ANP participated intensely,
together with the Brazilian Navy and IBAMA (the Fauna &
Flora protection agency of the Ministry of the
Environment) in the search for the culprit(s).

The information from radio
frequency activity on board ships navigating in
Brazilian waters from Kleos Space would have been very
useful had it been available at the time of the
North-eastern Brazil events because it is very likely
that the ship(s) that caused the pollution knew what
they were doing and were therefore very careful to avoid
scrutiny by switching off their AIS transmitters. Kleos'
data would cause the Government’s monitoring system to
be much more efficient"